Latest news with #ZiyadBaha
CAF
14-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
MATCH FACTS: Cote d'Ivoire hope history repeats itself in TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON semi-final against hosts Morocco
Hosts Morocco will take on Cote d'Ivoire in their TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia on Tuesday (kick-off 20:00 local time; 19:00 GMT). This is the second meeting between Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON. Their previous clash was also at the semi-final stage with Morocco as hosts in 2013. Cote d'Ivoire won that game 2-1. The Ivoirians are meeting a host nation for the fourth time. Their record against the tournament hosts reads P3 W2 L1. They won 7-0 against Botswana at the group stages in 1999, defeated Morocco in the last four in 2013 and in between lost to Rwanda 1-0 in the semi-final in 2011. Morocco have only faced West African teams in the last four. In addition to losing to Cote d'Ivoire in 2013, they overcame Mali on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 2023, winning the shoot-out 6-5. MOROCCO FACTS · Morocco are in their third semi-final, along with last four appearances in 2013 and 2023. · All three of Morocco's last four appearances have come in tournaments hosted in North Africa. This is the second time, along with 2013, that they reach the last four as hosts. They were runners up in 2023 with Algeria as hosts. · Morocco's tournament ended in 2013 when they were previously hosts against the Cote d'Ivoire at the semi-final stage. They then lost the play-off for third against Tunisia and ended fourth. · In CAF age-group tournaments hosted by Morocco, they reached the final at the 1997 TotalEnergies CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations and won the tournament. · Morocco are aiming to reach back-to-back finals at U17 level after they were runners up in 2023. The last team to reach consecutive finals was Mali, who did so in 2015 and 2017. · Morocco are looking to become the fifth host nation to reach the final. Previous hosts to have made it to the deciding game are Gambia in 2005, Togo in 2007, Algeria in 2009 and Rwanda in 2011. · All four previous hosts who reached the final did so in four successive tournaments between 2005 and 2011. The last host nation to reach the final was Rwanda in 2011. · Morocco have conceded one goal at the finals through their four games, which was in their 3-1 win over South Africa in the quarter-finals. · They have conceded the fewest goals of all the teams still remaining in the tournament. · Morocco have scored 11 goals at the current finals, the most they have scored in a single edition, surpassing the 10 they managed on home soil in 2013. · Morocco have scored the second most goals at the tournament thus far, only Burkina Faso (12) have netted more. · Morocco's win against South Africa in the last-8 was the second time they scored three goals in a knockout game at the finals. They also scored three in their 3-0 win against Algeria in the quarter-finals in 2023. · Morocco's Ziyad Baha has four goals at the current finals. He is the second Moroccan after Younes Bnou Marzouk to net four goals in a single edition. The latter scored four goals at the 2013 finals. · Abdellah Ouazane has scored two goals for Morocco at the current finals and another goal will see him go level with his elder brother Zakaria, who scored three goals for Morocco at the 2023 finals. COTE D'IVOIRE FACTS · Cote d'Ivoire are appearing in the last four for a fourth time along with 2005, 2011 and 2013. · Cote d'Ivoire reached this stage by defeating Central African Republic 6-1, drawing 0-0 with Angola and then defeating Mali 4-2 in the group stages, before overcoming defending champions Senegal on penalties in the quarter-finals after the game ended 0-0. · Their record in the semi-finals with games decided on penalties recorded as wins and losses reads P3 W1 L2. · They were Champions when Morocco hosted in 2013 and defeated the hosts in the last-4 on that occasion to reach the final, where they defeated Nigeria on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They won the shoot-out 5-4. · Their other semi-final encounters saw them lose to Ghana in 2005. The game went into extra time before they lost 2-0. They also lost to Rwanda 1-0 in 2011. · Cote d'Ivoire are facing a tournament host for the third time. Previously they lost against Rwanda in the 2011 semi-finals and won against Morocco in the 2013 Semi-final. All of Cote d'Ivoire's games against tournament hosts have been in the last-4. · They have been involved in two penalty shoot-outs and won the final in 2013 against Nigeria after a 1-1 draw they prevailed 5-4 in the shoot-out. At the current finals, a 0-0 draw in the quarter-final against Senegal was followed by a 5-3 win in the shoot-out. · The 10 goals Cote d'Ivoire have scored at the current finals is the most they have netted in a single edition, overtaking the nine they managed in 2011. · Cote d'Ivoire have received six yellow cards thus far, the joint most of all the semi-finalists along with Burkina Faso. · Alynho Haidara is Cote d'Ivoire's highest scorer at the current finals with six goals. He is the tournament's second highest scorer. · Haidara has scored his six goals from eight shots on target. Overall he has a shooting accuracy of 57.1%, which is only bettered by Burkina Faso's Asharaf Tapsoba, who has a shooting accuracy of 62.5%.
CAF
11-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
U-17 AFCON: Ziyad Baha under close paternal watch
A calm and composed Ziyad Baha (15), revealed more than just his precocious talent with the ball after scoring twice and named Man of the Match against South Africa in a 3-1 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON quarter-final clash in Mohammedia. 'I dreamed of this moment long before kick-off. We wanted this semi-final. And now, we're aiming for the final. The trophy must stay in Morocco.' Smiling and sincere, the Real Betis player didn't hide his joy at claiming his first individual award of the tournament. 'Man of the Match? I've wanted that for a long time. What we really want is to become African champions.' Pressure in the Name of Blood On the bench, his father Nabil Baha is relentless. And he owns it. 'I'm tougher on him than the others. He's not allowed to make mistakes. Because people will always say that if he's playing, it's thanks to me.' The Moroccan coach speaks with honesty and clarity. He knows the kind of suspicion this situation can stir. He counters it with high standards. 'If he wasn't good enough, he wouldn't even be called up. But every time he plays, he scores. He has statistics that I'll reveal one day. They're brutal numbers.' Born in 2009, Ziyad Baha joined youth national teams at the age of 11, consistently playing in higher age categories. 'He's always played above his age group. He's a player who needs support but also pushing. He has personality. He knows he's good, but he also knows there's a lot of work ahead.' A Promise to Nurture In the calm of the dressing room, the father-son bond takes over again. 'Sometimes I bring him to my room to talk, to get his head straight. I may be harder on him than the fans. But that's what's needed.' And while the road is still long, the Moroccan coach has no doubt about his son's potential. 'He'll have a great career—if he stays humble, if he works harder than everyone else, and if he keeps going down this path.'
Ya Biladi
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco advances to Afcon U17 semi-finals with 3-1 victory over South Africa
Morocco has qualified for the semi-finals of the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (U-17 AFCON) after defeating South Africa 3-1 in the quarter-finals on Thursday at El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia. Morocco's goals came from Ismail El Aoud (13th minute) and Ziyad Baha, who scored twice in quick succession (61st and 62nd minutes). Neo Bohloko scored South Africa's lone goal in the 54th minute. In another quarter-final match held Thursday, Burkina Faso thrashed Zambia 6-1 at El Arbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. The goals for Burkina Faso were scored by Mohamed Fofana (11th minute), Asharaf Tapsoba (penalties in the 21st and 77th minutes, and another goal in the 90th), and Halidou Diakité (58th and 68th minutes). Abel Nyirongo (35th minute) scored Zambia's only goal. The remaining quarter-finals will be played on Friday, with Ivory Coast facing Senegal at the Municipal Stadium in Berrechid, and Tunisia taking on Mali at El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.
CAF
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco overpower South Africa to reach TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON semi-finals
Published: Thursday, 10 April 2025 Host nation Morocco continued their impressive run at the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, overpowering South Africa 3-1 on Thursday evening in Mohammedia to secure their place in the semi-finals. Backed by a passionate home crowd at the Stade El Bachir, the Atlas Cubs were clinical when it mattered most, with Ziyad Baha scoring twice in a dominant second-half display after the teams went into the break with the Moroccans holding a slender 1-0 lead. The win sees Morocco take a giant step towards their dream of lifting the title on home soil, as they now look ahead to a tough last-four encounter. Bright start sets the tone The hosts looked dangerous from the outset, with striker Ziyad Baha drawing an early save before Ismail El Aoud found the breakthrough in the 13th minute, smashing home from close range after a rebound. Despite Morocco's strong start, South Africa showed resilience. Neo Bohloko brought the Amajimbos level in the 54th minute, rising to head in a pinpoint cross from Emile Witbooi. The goal sparked brief hope for the visitors, who had grown into the match after weathering early pressure. Baha brilliance turns the tide Just as South Africa began to settle, Morocco responded with purpose. Within two minutes of the equaliser, Baha latched onto a headed pass from El Aoud to fire Morocco back in front in the 61st minute. The forward then doubled his tally with another cool finish from Abdellah Ouazane's through ball a minute later. From there, Morocco remained in control, repelling South Africa's advances with organised defending and launching swift counterattacks. Chouaib Bellaarouch produced two key saves to deny Oageng Lebesane and Witbooi late in the second half, preserving Morocco's advantage. Home crowd spurs Atlas Cubs forward As the clock ticked down, the hosts managed the game with maturity beyond their years, frustrating South Africa's desperate attempts to get back into the tie. Baha, El Aoud, and Belmokhtar remained a constant threat on the break, while Morocco's backline absorbed pressure with composure. South Africa made several substitutions to inject energy into their attack, but Morocco's structure and physicality proved too much. With this victory, Morocco becomes the second team to confirm their spot in the semi-finals of the competition, joining Burkina Faso who advanced earlier in the day after thrashing Zambia 6-1. As the tournament heads into its decisive phase, Morocco's blend of attacking flair and defensive organisation will make them serious contenders for the U-17 AFCON crown.
CAF
22-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Morocco U17 Profile
Morocco enters the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations as one of the tournament favorites, boasting a talented squad mixed with domestic and European-based players. As hosts, they will be aiming to secure their first-ever U-17 AFCON title, building on their impressive performances in recent youth competitions. With a strong footballing culture and growing success at the youth level, Morocco is determined to make a deep run in the tournament and secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. How They Qualified Morocco automatically qualified as hosts but still participated in the UNAF U-17 Championship in Casablanca , finishing as runners-up. Despite not winning the title, they showcased their attacking strength, most notably in a resounding 5-1 victory over Egypt , the eventual tournament winners. Throughout the competition, Ziyad Baha emerged as a key figure, netting three goals, while Ismail El Aoud contributed two goals, playing a crucial role in Morocco's strong finish. History in the U-17 AFCON Morocco has been steadily building its reputation in African youth football, though they have had limited appearances in the U-17 AFCON. Their best-ever finish came in 2023, when they reached the final in Algeria but fell just short against Senegal in a narrow defeat. That campaign earned them a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, where they made history by reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Mali. Notably, former Fiorentina and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was once a standout player for Morocco at the U-17 level. Key Players to Watch Ibrahim Rabbaj – One of Chelsea's most promising young attackers, Rabbaj has been involved in nearly three goals or assists per game, making him a major threat in Morocco's attacking setup. Ziyad Baha – A clinical forward with a natural instinct for goal, Baha finished as Morocco's top scorer in the UNAF U-17 Championship with three goals. Ismail El Aoud – The Valencia midfielder is a key playmaker, renowned for his technical ability, composure on the ball, and ability to dictate the tempo of the game. Hamza Bouhadi – The team captain, Bouhadi is a highly-rated right-back, known for his defensive solidity and leadership qualities. Coach & Tactical Approach Morocco is managed by Nabil Baha, a former international who has instilled a possession-based philosophy combined with a well-structured defensive approach. Baha, who led Morocco to a second-place finish at the UNAF U-17 Championship, took over from Said Chiba after the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. His task now is to guide Morocco to their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON title and secure back-to-back World Cup qualifications . Tournament Expectations & Group Analysis Morocco will enter the tournament with high expectations, bolstered by their recent triumph at the Antalya Youth Cup in Türkiye, where they gained valuable experience against international opposition. Drawn in Group A, they will face Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia —two East African sides with similar fast-paced playing styles and a Zambian team known for its physicality. With home advantage and a technically gifted squad, Morocco will be targeting a strong group stage performance to set the stage for a deep tournament run.
